AP File PhotoChris Kaman is averaging 20.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for the Los Angeles Clippers.Wyoming native Chris Kaman should have made the NBA All-Star Western Conference team as a reserve.

It's bad enough the fans voted washed-up Allen Iverson to the Eastern Conference starters, but coaches have a chance to make things better when they pick the reserves.

And they slipped up in the Western Conference.

Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has similar numbers to Kaman, got in despite playing in just 29 games because of injury.

Obviously, winning gets rewarded.

Clearly, Kaman plays for the wrong team in L.A. The Clippers are 20-25 and forgotten in their own market.

Gasol is a gifted player, though really more of a forward. And he has the benefit of playing with Kobe Bryant and several other talented players.

TNT commentators Charles Barkley and Chris Webber thought Kaman should have been selected and argued such on the air after the annoucement of the reserves Thursday night. Kenny Smith made a spirited argument for Gasol.

Barkley said, in fact, that Kaman is the best center in the Western Conference.

Kaman, who played at Central Michigan and Tri-unity Christian High School, is scoring a career-best 20.2 points per game and grabbing 9.1 rebounds per game. He has improved his shooting numbers, and probably should have made the All-Star team two years ago as well.

Unfortunately for him, he made it a goal last summer to make the All-Star team. That makes it hurt more. Know this, the big kid really wants to win, and he works at improving his game. He makes the effort, and he cares.

In an exchange of phone messages, Kaman indicated he was disappointed and pointed to his team not having a winning record as the main reason he didn't make it.

Earlier this week he pointed out to Los Angeles reporters that he didn't think Gasol should make the team because he had missed several games. He had a point. He answered a question with logic that had merit.

But logic and merit are not always at work in making a promotional television weekend such as the NBA All-Star game.

The NBA's All-Star teams really are just a collection of the NBA's most popular players of the moment. Even the coaches sometimes vote that way.